盘点那些自相矛盾的英语单词

英语中有不少单词，其本身存在互相矛盾的两个意思，如果不弄清楚，有时会给我们的英语阅读带来一定困扰。特定情况下，联系上下文语境即可弄清它们的具体意思。

1. sanction“制裁”&“批准”

Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops.
只有侵略国撤回其军队，经济制裁才会解除。

They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.
他们想使计划获得正式批准。

2. overlook“检查；监视”&“忽视；忽略”

I am overlooking her work.
我正在检查她的工作。

I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
我认为你忽略了一个重要的事实。

3. finished“完成的”&“失败的”

Are you finished with that drill?
你的那个练习做完了吗？

This financial crisis means that the government's economic policy is finished.
这次金融危机意味着政府的经济政策失败了。

4. dust“擦去……的灰尘”&“在……上撒粉末”

I was dusting the mantelpiece when I noticed a crack.
我在擦壁炉台的时候发现了一道裂纹。

Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.
在蛋糕上撒些糖霜。

5. left“留下”&“离开”

He left the house by the back door.
他从房子的后门离开了。

His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
他的鞋在地板上留下了泥印。

6. trim“添加，装饰”&“修剪，剪枝”

The children are trimming up a Christmas tree with ribbons, laces.
孩子们正在往圣诞树上挂彩带和蕾丝。

He trimmed dead branches off a tree.
他从树上剪掉枯枝。

7. cleave“劈开；分开”&“粘住；紧贴”

With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces).
武士大斧一挥，将石头劈成了两半。

The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls.
古老的常春藤紧紧攀附在破败的城堡墙上。

注意：表“粘住；紧贴”时，cleave通常与to连用。

8. scan“细看，审视”&“粗略地看”

She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.
她急切地盯着一张张下火车的人的脸。

I scanned through the booklet but couldn't find the address.
我很快地翻阅了一遍小册子，但没有找到那个地址。

9. fast“快速的”&“固定的”

Computers are getting faster all the time.
计算机一直在提速。

She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
她把绳子的一头牢牢地绑在树上。

10. off“关掉”&“响起”

She turned off the TV.
她关掉了电视。

The alarm went off.
闹铃响了起来。